He expressed fond memories of Donald Trump while rejecting recent overtures from Seoul and Washington as insincere. (Image: File)
In a significant statement that outlines a clear precondition for diplomacy, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has stated his country is open to dialogue with the United States, but only if Washington abandons its long-standing demand for Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons. The remarks, reported by state news agency KCNA, were delivered in a speech to the Supreme People's Assembly and included a notable personal reference to former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The United States must first acknowledge that North Korea is a nuclear power, according to Kim Jong Un's remarks, which are the clearest current expression of North Korea's stance and essentially set a boundary for any future discussions.
The North Korean leader framed his nation's nuclear arsenal as an indispensable tool for survival. "It was a matter of survival for the country to build nuclear weapons to safeguard its security in the face of grave threats from the United States and South Korea," Kim stated.
He then laid out his condition for engagement: "If the United States drops the absurd obsession with denuclearising us and accepts reality, and wants genuine peaceful coexistence, there is no reason for us not to sit down with the United States." This formulation makes any talks contingent on a fundamental and unlikely shift in U.S. foreign policy.
In a move laden with diplomatic nuance, Kim Jong Un added a personal touch to his political message. KCNA reported that he said he "still has fond memories" of former President Trump.
The two leaders held three historic summit meetings during Trump's first term, a period of unprecedented direct engagement between the two nations, though those talks ultimately collapsed in Hanoi in 2019 over sanctions relief and denuclearization. This nostalgic reference is widely seen as a signal that Pyongyang would prefer to deal with a potential second Trump administration over the current Biden White House.
The North Korean leader rejected recent dialogue proposals from both South Korea and the United States, dismissing them as insincere. He argued that their "fundamental intent to weaken the North and destroy his regime remains unchanged."
As proof of this, he pointed specifically to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's proposal for a phased approach to ending the North's nuclear program. For Kim, any plan that ultimately leads to denuclearization is, by definition, a threat to his regime's existence and is therefore non-negotiable.
President Lee Jae Myung, who took office in June, has consistently advocated for dialogue and a phased approach to build confidence. In a recent interview with Reuters, he acknowledged "formidable obstacles" but maintained that a step-by-step plan for dismantling Pyongyang's nuclear program was the only realistic option.
Crucially, Lee also highlighted Trump's potential role, stating it was necessary to "create the right conditions" to bring North Korea back to the table and that the former U.S. president has a "key role to play in those efforts."
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Kim Jong Un's speech creates a stark choice for Washington and its allies: either continue a policy of pressure and isolation aimed at denuclearization—which has failed to halt North Korea's nuclear advancement, or explore a new diplomatic track that begins by accepting North Korea's nuclear status as a starting point for discussions on arms control and risk reduction, rather than their elimination.
For now, the ball appears to be in Washington's court, with the prospect of a change in U.S. leadership later this year likely causing all sides to pause and recalibrate their strategies.
Disclaimer: TDG aggregates and synthesizes inputs from multiple sources. We do not independently verify the accuracy of claims, allegations, or data from external contributors or agencies.
